Jon Bernthal to return as The Punisher in New Marvel special for Disney+

Marvel Television has just announced a Punisher special featuring Jon Bernthal scheduled to hit Disney+ in 2026. The special will parallel the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, where Bernthal will reprise his role as vigilante anti-hero Frank Castle.

Bernthal, who first took on the role of The Punisher in Daredevil (2016) and subsequently, in two seasons of The Punisher (2017 to 2019), is co-writing the special with director Reinaldo Marcus Green. The special will be something along the lines of the one-off Marvel features, such as Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. The special will be a self-sustained, but significant Marvel Cinematic Universe expansion, a report in Deadline stated.

Jon Bernthal’s return to MCU

After a long wait, Bernthal returns to the MCU as Frank Castle in a special for The Punisher, where he makes his first solo stint as the character since the Netflix Marvel shows have been moved to Disney''s platform. The rights to the character being returned to Marvel Studios had prompted speculation from fans about his return, the report added.


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The Punisher and Daredevil: Born Again

Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again has received quite a creative makeover. Initially expected to span 18 episodes, the series changed dramatically after production was halted due to the writers’ strike. The Punisher showrunner Dario Scardapane was brought in as the new showrunner, with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the directing duo from Loki, stepping in.

Apart from Bernthal, Vincent D'Onofrio and Charlie Cox are all set to reprise their roles in Daredevil: Born Again. Reportedly, Ayelet Zurer will also reprise her character of Vanessa Fisk. Wilson Bethel as Bullseye, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page and Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson will also return.

Jon Bernthal on The Punisher’s influence

Bernthal has spoken about how The Punisher's influence runs very deep culturally, especially among law enforcement agencies and military personnel.

He explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016 that many people, comic enthusiasts, law enforcement agencies, and military personnel, share a very special connection with the character. The actor learnt how special the fan base is during his stint at The Walking Dead. He touched upon how deeply ingrained the Punisher symbol has become in the culture of the military, where soldiers carry it on their kit and sometimes even lose their lives while wearing it.

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FAQs:

1. Who will be the lead actor in the Punisher special?

Jon Bernthal will portray Frank Castle in The Punisher special.

1. Will Jon Bernthal return to play the Punisher in the MCU?

Yes, Bernthal will return as Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again and will then star in his own Punisher special.